Theatre / Bristol old vic
Divine inspiration for composer Neil Hannon
Four years since its triumphant debut, Swallows and Amazons is back at the Bristol Old Vic this Christmas.
After a stint in the West End and then a nationwide tour Emma Stenning, executive director of the Bristol Old Vic, said it feels amazing to bring it back to the city: “When we sat round and though what should we do for Christmas and we thought maybe we should listen to the people who want to see Swallow and Amazons again.”
Created by artistic director Tom Morris, writer Helen Edmundson and music by Neil Hannon, lead singer of The Divine Comedy, the musical brings to life Arthur Ransome’s classic story of Captain John, Wildcat island and dastardly pirates .
is needed now More than ever
Stenning said they had wanted Neil Hannon to work with them for a long time: “12 years ago I gave Tom (Morris) a lift home and we listened to Neil’s album ‘A Short Album About Love’ as we were driving through London and, at the end of the journey, Tom said we should do a musical with him and did I think he would be up for it?”
Up for it he was, but it took inspiration from Hannon’s daughter to find the perfect story:”Coming up for something for a musical was firmly in my mind because of Tom’s insistence,” said Hannon.
“I was trying to find a book to read to my daughter. She let me read Swallows and Amazons and it was like a light bulb moment – half-way through I thought, ‘Actually this might work.'”
Watch both videos of Neil Hannon’s exclusive performance on our YouTube channel
Swallows and Amazons opens on 27 Nov at Bristol Old Vic
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